Warning Signs

Hydrocodone is a prescription drug that is sold as Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab and other name brand prescription painkillers.

An opiate drug, hydrocodone is highly addictive; not everyone with a hydrocodone prescription will develop hydrocodone addiction but most will become physically dependent on the drug. Detecting signs of prescription medication addiction is more challenging than with other types of drugs since some chronic use alone does not denote a problem if there are chronic pain issues are the reason for the prescription. The side effects can be strong and being able to tell the different between side effects and hydrocodone addiction warning signs is key to taking care of yourself appropriately.

If you or someone you love is addicted to hydrocodone, contact us at Rehab International today. Let us help you get the hydrocodone treatment you need to recover.

Signs and Symptoms

The major warning signs of hydrocodone addiction are in the details of how a hydrocodone prescription is used. Though the addict herself may realize that she is “bending” the rules, she may not be cognizant of the fact that she is living with hydrocodone addiction. Close friends and loved ones who are privy to the habits of the addict concerning their medication may have a more objective view.

Individuals addicted to hydrocodone may take larger amounts of a medication than what’s prescribed by their physician.

Due to increased tolerance for the drug, hydrocodone addicts might increase their dosage simply to get the same effect they experienced previously.

In order to continue taking more than the amount of hydrocodone prescribed, hydrocodone addicts need to visit more than one doctor for their prescription.

Hydrocodone addicts may feel guilty for their abuse of the drugs, and may lie to cover up their actions.

Withdrawal symptoms may surface in hydrocodone addicts like insomnia, night sweats or muscle aches when they miss a dose or try to stop taking their hydrocodone prescription.

Behavioral Signs

Other hydrocodone addiction signs relate more to lifestyle, and are common with other drug addictions as well as hydrocodone:

Hydrocodone addicts may fail to follow through on their responsibilities at work or at home due to a preoccupation with their drug use, or because they’re high or experiencing opiate withdrawal.

Addicts may have more limited cash flow as they’re spending their money to get more Vicodin either through prescriptions or by purchasing it on the street.

Hydrocodone addicts may steal from family members when they are no longer able to borrow money.

Hydrocodone addicts may distance themselves from friends or family members who have mentioned their drug use habits.

The above actions can indicate that a hydrocodone addiction is taking place. When physical signs of hydrocodone addiction are present in addition to behavioral changes, it’s likely that hydrocodone abuse is an issue that requires treatment.

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Physical Signs

The physical signs of hydrocodone addiction relate to both the direct effects of using the opiates (including those that addicts desire) and medical side effects that surface with regular use. Some of these may be detectable to others who are regularly in the presence of the addict. Others may only be noticed by live-in family members. Some of these symptoms of hydrocodone addiction can also appear in individuals using the medication correctly, but addicts may experience them more often or to a higher degree.

Physical addiction warning signs of hydrocodone abuse can include:

Anxiety and agitation that is abnormal for the addict

Constricted pupils

A greater sense of lethargy and drowsiness

A sense of euphoria

An inability to concentrate

Regular constipation

Feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness

Nausea and/or vomiting

Stomach pain

Trouble urinating

Intervention

Often doctors are the first to intervene with an addiction to hydrocodone. Addicts abusing the prescription medication often get caught when they are filling prescriptions from multiple doctors, requesting a new prescription long before the last one should have been finished, or filling a new prescription before a refill was due. A doctor’s office may flag an addict for suspicious drug use and confront the issue. Most medical professionals will try to help wean the addict off the medication, but in many cases, a drug treatment program is a better suggestion because it includes drug detox as well as continued therapeutic support.

Family members who suspect a loved one is abusing hydrocodone can also stage an intervention with the help of an addiction counselor. Those who abuse prescription drugs like Vicodin may not easily accept that they need help.

A hydrocodone addiction intervention can help an addict get the assistance they need. Contact us at Rehab International now to learn more.

Rehab International is a service provided by Foundations Recovery Network. As part of the Foundations Recovery Network, our goal is to provide science-based treatments to individuals suffering from issues of addiction and mental illness.

When you call you will be connected to a member of the Foundations Recovery Network who will assist in providing you with any questions you may have regarding the treatment process.

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